Blame Liverpool for bore draw - United boss

Jose Mourinho: 'I think it was a good performance. It was a difficult match for us and for them and I think we controlled the game tactically and emotionally and it is not easy to do both things here' Photo: PA

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho insisted Liverpool and not his side should be criticised after the goalless draw at Anfield.

United's defensive tactics saw them have just 35pc of possession, their lowest total in the Premier League since Opta started collecting data in 2003.

Nevertheless, despite managing just one shot on target and winning only one corner, Mourinho claimed Reds counterpart Jurgen Klopp should be the one under the spotlight.

"Last season United won here. Liverpool had 14 shots on target and Untied had one," said the Portuguese.

"How many shots on target did Liverpool have on target today? Two (official statistics recorded three).

"Two shots on target with 65pc of possession. You have to be critical of Liverpool. It is their problem, not our problem.

"I think it was a good performance. It was a difficult match for us and for them and I think we controlled the game tactically and emotionally and it is not easy to do both things here.

"The result I think is acceptable. We wanted more. For long periods in the game we thought that could be possible but we didn't score and, if you don't score, you don't win. But I think it was very positive performance.

"We stopped them playing, but they also did very well from the defensive point of view."

Mourinho's tactics were not unexpected - he did exactly the same, if not more extreme, when he was Chelsea manager in April 2014 and on that occasion they won 2-0 to derail Liverpool's title bid. It was nothing Klopp did not expect to see.

"No I wasn't surprised. I am not too happy," he said.

"The game from the first second was very hectic and maybe that was what Manchester United wanted and we didn't want and it was maybe more for their advantage.

"But you have to find back to the way we usually play. We lost patience far too early and our passing game was not good."